Zeta-Jones Topless/Pregnant/Smoking Photo Controversy Involving ASH Rekindled

Aug. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- The controversy over the publication of a topless photo showing Catherine Zeta-Jones smoking while pregnant has been revived by an article this Sunday in the Daily Standard about Michael Douglas' throat cancer.  It accuses Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), America's oldest antismoking organization, of going on a "witch-hunt" over Zeta-Jones' smoking while pregnant -- one which "became so invasive that the Douglases were forced to launch legal action."  http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/194788/Catherine-Zeta-Jones-and-Kirk-Douglas-Michael-s-Strength

But, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf, Executive Director of ASH, far from being a "witch-hunt," the reason ASH defied legal threats and published the controversial photo on its website was to send several strong educational messages about smoking.  As ASH explained at the time in the posting on its website http://ash.org/zetajonesphoto :

    "'Here's a dramatic example of how a woman, who clearly knows better, is willing to endanger her unborn child's life and health by engaging in an activity which many believe is at least as dangerous to a fetus as using crack,' says Professor John F. Banzhaf III, Executive Director of ASH."
    "'The fact that this intelligent and strong-willed woman, who clearly can afford the best smoking-cessation assistance available, would knowingly do this also dramatically illustrates how strong the strength of the addiction to nicotine can be,' said Banzhaf."
    "'Unfortunately, many members of the public begin to pay attention to major medical problems - including addictions to alcohol, heroin, and nicotine - only when it affects a famous person such as an actress,' said Banzhaf."
    "'That's why it's so important for the world to be able to see this dramatic evidence of the dangers of smoking to both mother and child. A picture is certainly worth a thousand words, and this picture could well save a thousand lives if young girls see it and heed the warning before it's too late for them.'"

Actually, ASH wasn't the only organization concerned about Zeta-Jones' smoking.  For example, she was reportedly targeted by a "radical antismoking organization" in 2004 over her smoking.  http://no-smoking.org/feb04/02-09-04-4.html

In another example, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Colin Farrell were targeted by teens about their smoking in movies. http://no-smoking.org/dec03/12-17-03-1.html

In addition to the Daily Standard, other media commented on the link between smoking and Michael Douglas' throat cancer, some more strongly than others:

DAILY STANDARD:  Bottom line, if you smoke a lot, and drink a lot, you’ll pay for it sooner or later.  . . . “If you both smoke and drink, you take the greatest of risks with your health,” says a leading Californian cancer specialist. “It’s not hard to see why. If you set fire to alcohol, it burns. If you drink and smoke, you light a bonfire in your throat. Spirits and cigarettes taste nice, sure, but are perhaps the most lethal combination of all.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS: Michael Douglas' Cancer Comes After Many Years of Abuse - The 65-year-old Michael Douglas is well over 45 and indulged in a habit that is a number one cause of the problem. As much as 90 percent of throat cancer is caused by tobacco products. In addition, if Michael Douglas was a drinker, as well, 75 percent of throat cancer is linked to drinking. After 10 years of quitting smoking, for good, a person's risk severely decreases. However, it has not been 10 years for Michael Douglas.

THE STIR:  Michael Douglas' Throat Cancer: Smoking + Drinking Is the Cause - Dr. Kenneth Hu, co-director of the Head and Neck Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and notably not Douglas' doctor, told Good Morning America today that he suspects Douglas' years of smoking and drinking led to the cancer. And while the condition is likely curable, his treatment won't work properly if he doesn't quit. Says Hu: "...Smoking during the radiation makes the radiation less effective."

PROFESSOR JOHN F. BANZHAF III
Professor of Public Interest Law at GWU,
FAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished Professor,
FELLOW, World Technology Network, and
Executive Director and Chief Counsel
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
America’s First Antismoking Organization
2013 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006, USA
(202) 659-4310 // (703) 527-8418
Internet: http://ash.org/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AshOrg

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Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), America's first anti-smoking and nonsmokers' rights organization, serves as the legal action arm of the anti-smoking community. It is supported by tax-deductible contributions.